‘Generational’ Cooper Flagg will follow Victor Wembanyama and LeBron James to give $1bn to Mavericks after draft shocker
Cooper Flagg is closer than ever to his NBA dream. And the Dallas Mavericks just became even richer. Flagg is ready for the NBA and set for the No.1 overall pickGetty With the draft lottery instantly changing the futures of franchises across the league, the biggest prospect since Victor Wembanyama will soon join his new team. The kid from Maine who grew up watching Larry Bird DVDs in family minivan trips has generational talent. The 6ft 9in and 225lb guard/forward is a brilliant passer, fierce dunker and can make the net sway across the court — and he’s only 18 years old. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers were all dreaming of acquiring the No.1 pick as the lottery began on Monday. The Mavs blew them all away, securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft despite just 1.8 percent odds. With Flagg in uniform, a franchise valued at $4.7 billion could eventually add another $1bn to its worth if the former Duke star becomes an annual All-NBA selection. “One NBA executive estimated privately in recent weeks that winning the draft lottery would be worth a minimum of $500 million and maybe up to $1 billion for one lucky franchise,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted. “The Mavericks just won the lottery, literally.” Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 48.1 per cent from the field and 38.5 per cent on 3-pointers as a freshman. “When I see somebody like Cooper Flagg, when the physical gifts are there and the IQ is there … that’s what makes him so good,” Houston Cougars assistant coach K.C. Beard exclusively told talkSPORT. GettyHe drew raves in high school[/caption] Getty Images - GettyWembanyama and Flagg could lead the NBA into a new era[/caption] The Mavericks suddenly became an option thanks to a historic lotteryGetty “It’s his ability to lead them (Duke) in assists. And then late in the game, he knows when to take over. He’s got such a great feel for both sides of that.” He guided the Blue Devils to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, then came seconds away from reaching the championship game. “He just impacts the game at a totally high level,” Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony said on Wave Original. “He don’t have to score, but he can score if he wants. He’s very impressive to watch as a player, but also a player at that age. You don’t see that. “When you watch him, you see the bounce, you see the pop that he has, you see the quick twitches. … That takes a different type of motor and energy to do. He’s special, man.” LeBron James is closer than ever to retirement, while Stephen Curry has been forced to miss critical playoff games due to another injury. With ‘The King’ at 40 and Curry at 37, the NBA is on the verge of losing its two biggest names and entering a new era during a time of mounting fan frustration. Flagg can instantly change the look of the Mavs — who had been blasted by fans in February after trading away Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers — and has already proven himself against Team USA. “He wants to be great,” Phoenix guard Devin Booker said. It only takes one special player to change an NBA franchise and ignite a fanbase. The NBA was elevated by Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant before The King led to Curry. Flagg has dreamt of greatness since he was a child. Thanks to a few lucky lottery balls, a once-overlooked basketball player from Maine will change an entire franchise with one pick on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. “When I was younger, it felt like people would just shoot me down,” Flagg told DraftExpress. “I felt like being just a kid from Maine, people were just kind of underestimating me and telling me that it wasn’t possible.” No one is overlooking Flagg after the lottery. Especially not the Mavericks, who have their next franchise face just months after getting rid of Doncic.
Cooper Flagg is closer than ever to his NBA dream.
And the Dallas Mavericks just became even richer.
With the draft lottery instantly changing the futures of franchises across the league, the biggest prospect since Victor Wembanyama will soon join his new team.
The kid from Maine who grew up watching Larry Bird DVDs in family minivan trips has generational talent.
The 6ft 9in and 225lb guard/forward is a brilliant passer, fierce dunker and can make the net sway across the court — and he’s only 18 years old.
The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers were all dreaming of acquiring the No.1 pick as the lottery began on Monday.
The Mavs blew them all away, securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft despite just 1.8 percent odds.
With Flagg in uniform, a franchise valued at $4.7 billion could eventually add another $1bn to its worth if the former Duke star becomes an annual All-NBA selection.
“One NBA executive estimated privately in recent weeks that winning the draft lottery would be worth a minimum of $500 million and maybe up to $1 billion for one lucky franchise,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted.
“The Mavericks just won the lottery, literally.”
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 48.1 per cent from the field and 38.5 per cent on 3-pointers as a freshman.
“When I see somebody like Cooper Flagg, when the physical gifts are there and the IQ is there … that’s what makes him so good,” Houston Cougars assistant coach K.C. Beard exclusively told talkSPORT.
“It’s his ability to lead them (Duke) in assists. And then late in the game, he knows when to take over. He’s got such a great feel for both sides of that.”
He guided the Blue Devils to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, then came seconds away from reaching the championship game.
“He just impacts the game at a totally high level,” Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony said on Wave Original.
“He don’t have to score, but he can score if he wants. He’s very impressive to watch as a player, but also a player at that age. You don’t see that.
“When you watch him, you see the bounce, you see the pop that he has, you see the quick twitches. … That takes a different type of motor and energy to do. He’s special, man.”
LeBron James is closer than ever to retirement, while Stephen Curry has been forced to miss critical playoff games due to another injury.
With ‘The King’ at 40 and Curry at 37, the NBA is on the verge of losing its two biggest names and entering a new era during a time of mounting fan frustration.
Flagg can instantly change the look of the Mavs — who had been blasted by fans in February after trading away Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers — and has already proven himself against Team USA.
“He wants to be great,” Phoenix guard Devin Booker said.
It only takes one special player to change an NBA franchise and ignite a fanbase.
The NBA was elevated by Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant before The King led to Curry.
Flagg has dreamt of greatness since he was a child.
Thanks to a few lucky lottery balls, a once-overlooked basketball player from Maine will change an entire franchise with one pick on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“When I was younger, it felt like people would just shoot me down,” Flagg told DraftExpress.
“I felt like being just a kid from Maine, people were just kind of underestimating me and telling me that it wasn’t possible.”
No one is overlooking Flagg after the lottery.
Especially not the Mavericks, who have their next franchise face just months after getting rid of Doncic.
